CSWO alleges anomalies in distribution of NFSA rice

From A correspondent
SHILLONG, July 9: The Civil Woman’s Organisation (CSWO) has alleged that rice under NFSA (tiol Food Security Act) is being charged beyond the specified price fixed by the Government.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that the actual price for the PHH (Priority House Hold) (earlier called the BPL) category rice is Rs 3 per kg while the beneficiaries are being charged between Rs 5 and Rs 10.
She said that such complaints have come from Mawsiangei village under the Shella Bholaganj block in East Khasi Hills district.
“Villagers, who fall under the PHH category of the NFSA, are compelled to pay Rs 10 per kg. This is decided by the village Dorbar and agreed to even by the Vigilance Committee who are all male members,” the CSWO alleged.
According to the CSWO, one of the women who complained, Dran Khongphai, of Mawsiangei village, who was aggrieved at having to pay Rs 10 for one kg rice under the said scheme, met the CSWO and rrated the way the PDS is being provided.
Out of the 30 kilograms that she is allotted for six people in the household, (5 kg per head) a kg is also deducted from each head and only 24 kg is distributed to her and her family.
However, as per the NFSA, every person belonging to priority households, are entitled to receive five kilogram of food-grains per person per month at subsidized prices from the ration shops not exceeding Rs 3 in per kg rice and Rs 2 in per kg wheat.
“But despite repeated orders those who are complaining are being reprimanded,” Kharshinng alleged. Dran, the aggrieved beneficiary even mentioned that only 3 kg of sugar was distributed while the entry in the card mentions 3 ½ kg.
The CSWO said that when they inquired if the distribution is done for the whole month, it was informed that the PDS is distributed only for one day in this village and those who fail to collect the PDS within the specified date given by the dealer they are denied their entitlements.  
“This is also the practice by many corrupt agents in some villages too. This causes great injustice and inconvenience to poor daily wage earners as well as to contractual employees under the security service providers as their salary is not at all regular,” the CSWO said.